On January 20, the La Bugal-B'laan Tribal Association petitioned Philippine government
to reconsider opening their borders to foreign mining companies. According to
Business World, in the 38-page petition, the tribal association asserts that "every
exploration, development, and utilization of natural resources within its purview
should be under the full control and supervision of the State." The petition
suggests that the State accept monetary assistance from foreign investors, but
should not lose complete control over mining operations.
In early December of last year, the court repealed the Philippine Mining Act of 1995, which prevented foreign-owned mining companies from operating in the Philippines. The Philippine Supreme Court’s decision was based on bolstering economic development through mining, projecting an estimated $840 billion in revenues. It is unclear how the petition will affect mining law.
